clarinews@clarinet.com (RICH EXNER) (02/04/90)
RICHFIELD, Ohio (UPI) -- As far as the Detroit Pistons are concerned, it's only going to get tougher to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons routed Cleveland 101-82 and 99-82 in their two previous meetings of the season. But Saturday afternoon they faced a Cleveland team that had two-time all-star center Brad Daugherty in the starting lineup for the first time this season after foot surgery. And this time it took a 3-point shot and two free throws by Isiah Thomas down the stretch and a 10-foot jumper by James Edwards with 24 seconds remaining to secure a 105-100 victory over Cleveland, the Pistons sixth straight win. ``They are a much-improved team with their people back and they're going to be tougher and tougher to handle,'' Detroit coach Chuck Daly said. ``They're getting back to where they were.'' The Pistons and Cavaliers battled for the best record in the NBA much of last season before Cleveland faltered down the stretch. This season the Pistons sit in first place of the Central Division with a 32-14 record, and Cavaliers are sixth at 19-24. ``It (Cleveland) is a lot better team,'' Detroit forward Mark Aguirre said. ``He (Daugherty) is basically not in great shape right now, but I'm glad we're getting them now, because when they get back in the groove, they're still going to be the team to reckon with, there's no doubt about that.'' Daugherty finished with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds, but perhaps the most impressive statistic was that Cleveland outscored Detroit 80-72 when Daugherty was in the game. Detroit's balanced attack that included six players in double figures, however, was too much for Cleveland. Guards Thomas and Joe Dumars led the Pistons with 19 points each. Aguirre had 16, Edwards 15, Bill Laimbeer 13 and Vinnie Johnson 10. Eight of Aguirre's points came in the fourth quarter. ``He came in and gave us some good offensive punch,'' Daly said. ``Basically that's his job right now.'' Cleveland coach Lenny Wilkens, despite losing for the first time in four games, was encouraged. ``Our intensity level was way up and I thought we played well,'' Wilkens said. ``We're not that far away. ``We are just getting Brad back and, all of a sudden, it is a different influx, focal point for our team right now,'' Wilkens said. ``I feel real good about where we are right now.'' Daughterty played only 15 minutes, scoring 7 points, in his first action of the year Tuesday in Maimi, but played 37 mintues Saturday. The Cavaliers were led by Mark Price with 25 points. Larry Nance added 24 and John ``Hot Rod'' Williams came off the bench for 19. The Cavaliers jumped out to an early 15-6 lead but Detroit scored 18 straight to go in front 24-15 with 7:15 remaining in the quarter and led 32-23 at the end of the period. ``We just started playing harder defensively,'' Daly said. ``We stiffened up a little bit and made a pretty good run and got control of the game. But they kept fighting back.'' The Pistons scored the first 9 points of the second quarter to take a 41-25 lead but, with Daugherty back off the bench, Cleveland battled to within 59-54 at the half. The Pistons led 82-79 after three quarters. Detroit and Cleveland meet again Tuesday in Detroit, but the Pistons first play Utah at home Sunday and Cleveland hosts the Los Angeles Clippers Monday.